"Christmas children peep into Christmas windows..."

This week has passed! I´m actually a little bit glad that it´s done. The holidays are wonderful, and getting to celebrate the birth of Christ is wonderful! However, the work here sucked. Straight up. People were just grumpy and we had trouble getting appointments set up with anyone that was not an active member of the church. It led to a lot of time where we just had no clue about what to do. We were frustrated, but full of food. So I guess it wasn´t all bad!

I want to thank everyone that wished me a Merry Christmas! And those of you that sent me stuff! And especially Mike, Marian, Gma and Gpops! Keeping the missionary pockets laced with dough. I really do appreciate everything that all of you do for me!

Well, I managed to do a lot of caroling this week. Tuesday and Friday were spent caroling in Eindhoven-- we gave out some cookies, shared some love, and I had a ball. Like I do. 

I have many pictures for the peoples!

This is Elder Serra jokingly trying to find an uncomfortable position to sleep in.

This is Elder Serra genuinely just tuckered out.

Exchanges with Elder Parr! Big kids on campus ya´ll!

Ain´t he a cutie. I take a lot of pictures of him. He´s very photogenic.

"In the ghetto....." -Elvis

Cookies I made. We were on a train to Eindhoven.

Artsy sunrise picture. It´s cool, you can see the reflection of the train car I´m in. Art.

CAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This last one has a bit of a story. Elder Serra and I locked ourselves out of our apartment. We spent an hour and a little bit more removing the door from it´s hinges with the help of Rudy, our building handyman. After forever we finally got back inside. Yeah, we´ll do better at remembering our keys after that ordeal. Yep.

Sorry there wasn´t a ton to talk about this week! But at least I had a lot of pictures!

Loves!

Elder Shaw

Hola, soy El Shaw!

I´m trying to learn how to say "Hello, I am The Shaw" in as many languages as possible for when I answer the phone. People find it pretty amusing. Since I first started calling myself "The Shaw" in Haarlem it has spread through almost the entire mission. Cool, eh?

Well, I´m in Den Bosch! My companion is Elder Serra. He´s Portuguese but has lived in England for a long time. He´s a great time and I love working with him. We have a lot going on for us here in Den Bosch. A baptismal date, a good pool of investigators and potentials, and a wonderful ward! I think I´m going to enjoy my stay here!

I do have two little stories to share from the week:

First-- We were attempting to commit someone we´re working with to read the Book of Mormon everyday. He´s a prankster and likes to push buttons. He said he wouldn´t commit unless Sisters asked him to do it. I think he thought we would just push him until he said yes, but what did I do? I immediately picked up the phone and called the only Sisters in our zone. I put it on speakerphone, explained the situation to them, and then had them ask him to read the Book of Mormon everyday. He begrudgingly agreed. Boom! That´s how we do!

The other one is that we had to find our way to a train station one night after a dinner appointment. We were in a tiny little town, it was ridiculously dark outside, and we had no idea where we were going. After walking for about 40 minutes, we figured we were going the wrong way. We went over to a house on the side of the road, and asked the woman who opened the door if she could direct us to the station. Initially, she didn´t listen to us and, seeing our name tags, said "Nee nee nee". I asked again, and when she finally figured out what we wanted, she gave us directions. It turns out we had walked the wrong direction for more than twenty minutes! We finally reached the station and had missed two trains, so we had to wait a long time. It was one of those nights...

I have a few pictures!

This was the violinist's music from our Christmas performance. I about died when she put this together.

This is the new companion! Ain´t he a looker! I love this kid!

Love you all!

Elder Shaw

"Kip is a good man."

Oaky (yes, oaky). First things first, I´ll be transferred to Den Bosch! --with another Portuguese speaking companion. Apparently there´s something I need to work on. I´m excited!

This week was the most intense, emotional roller coaster. The concert went as well as can be expected for never having done a run through. And yeah, it was crazy! I don´t have any stories from the week, really. It was a lot of practicing and stress and freaking out and then going to bed and doing it again the next day. 

Saturday, after the concert, we went to sing in a retirement home with the district. It was a lot of fun. I played guitar for a few songs. We had a good time and I think the old people got a kick out of it!

Sunday we had the Stake concert, which we sang for again. Yeah, I´ve been singing a lot. That went okay. It was really long, but we had a good time! Then we got transfers and I haven´t gotten enough sleep any night this week. I have some pictures though, then I gotta cut it off.

Never mind. I´ll have to try and upload pictures later today. This computer is busy uploading someone else pictures!

I love you all!

Elder Shaw

Yodododododo Yododododododo!

If you couldn´t tell, that´s the violin part to "For Unto Us a Child is Born"!  MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Okay, getting ready for the Christmas concert is in full swing. We´ll be using almost every day of this week to get ready for it. Yeah, I know. I´m a little stressed, but hey, a little stress is a good thing, right? RIGHT!? Yeah... whatever.

This week was cool. We ended up back in Belgium; more practicing. Just intensity all around. One cool little refresher from the craziness of these few weeks is that a family in the ward invited us over to do an early Sinter Klaas (Or Sint Niklaas, you´ll see it spelled both ways) celebration. It was a fun little cultural experience and they gave us some gifts and we sang songs together and it was just a ton of fun and I was quite happy! (What sort of sentence is that?) You know, I´m realizing something interesting. When you come on a mission and learn Dutch from English, you go home not knowing how to speak either of them. Or maybe I just suck....

We have really been practicing a ton, but this concert promises to be incredible. I want to give it my all... It´s what´s really expected of us. I spoke to Elder Conatti about it this week. The Lord doesn´t ask much of us, just everything...It´s an interesting thought, but it´s true. Food for thought. Mull that one over a bit.

I don´t have a lot to say really, but I would like to remind everyone to focus on what´s important this Christmas. Remember, it´s not about just receiving, but it´s also not just about giving. It´s about the reason we give. If you´re not sure of that, go read the last verse of "O Little Town of Bethlehem." I´m not just going to give you the answer. You have to work for it. Also, thank God for your many blessings AND trials. It´s hard, but gratitude is a part of humility. I´m all over the place today. Sorry, have a good week, everybody.

This is my one picture--those with whom we celebrated Sinter Klaas. The De Jonges. Wonderful people!

Bok bukawk.

Elder Shaw

I don't even.....

Hello, Austin, Texas! I am tired! 1! 2! 3! ZZZzzzzzzz.....

Fo'realz do'. Just let me go through this week!

Monday we were in Zwolle, then we had to travel back to Rotterdam and do stuff in our actual area. Tuesday was a normal day; we taught a nice lesson to some men from Africa and just had a wonderful day! Now, hang on. Here's where it gets intense:

Wednesday we went to Gent. If you look on a map, you'll find that THAT'S IN BELGIUM. You know, just your standard day trip to ANOTHER COUNTRY! The funny thing about it is it only takes about as long as it does to get to San Antonio from Austin. This place is tiny! It fits into Texas more than nine times. Uh huh. Anyway, we were down there practicing with our pianist for the Christmas concert. The concert is four part, so Elder Müller will be singing with his delicious bass voice instead of tickling the ivories. It was a long day, and we still have a lot of work to do before we're ready for next week.

Thursday and Friday we spent our time running between appointments with members in Gouda, Ommoord, Lekkerkerk, Woerden, and Waddinxveen. We also hit a few smaller towns in between all of those. Yeah, it was nuts. We had a ton of appointments, which was nice... but far from relaxing.

Saturday was the concert. It was.... odd. It went well! But it felt odd that it was the last time we would ever do it. I'm still not sure how to feel about it. I can't really complain, though!

Yesterday we were actually in our own ward for church.... That felt odd. Then we practiced afterwards, both for our thing and Elder Conatti and I with the Stake Choir. Apparently I just can't get enough singing!

I have pictures.

Someone put Ferrari stickers on this lunchbox.

This is a warning sticker on one of the new mission cars.... I died

Elder Byers and I celebrating cultural sensitivity. (I'm wearing a scarf and a blanket, not an actual hijab or chador)

Aren't they so cute when they're emailing their families and friends that just so happen to be female!?!

This is why we were in Zwolle-- the Turkey Bowl. I couldn't even play! I had hurt my neck the night before.... Sad.

Well, love you all, etc.

Elder Shaw

"There's no graceful way to pick things up when you're fat."

To the person that supplied this quote: thank you. You know who you are!

We were traveling in Amersfoort this week, and we're still there! I'm emailing from a library in Amersfoort, and it's very fun. It's a tradition that the mission does a Turkey bowl the week of Thanksgiving, so we asked permission to go to the one for this zone, since we were traveling during the one for ours! I probably won't be playing too much football (there was a little too much rough housing last night before bed; I'm in pain) but it's always fun to get to see missionaries that you worked with in the past and all that.

We had a good time traveling this week, and work in Schiedam isn't bad either. This week wasn't as good for our area as the past few have been, but I can't really complain. Elder Conatti and I walked until we were ready to tear our legs off. Don't worry, we were too exhausted to actually have the strength to do it. Missions are fun that way. Being exhausted at the end of a day is such a good feeling. It is a balancing act, though. It's not about running as fast as possible and burning yourself out-- it's about pacing. Working right to the edge. What use is working yourself to death and then not being able to work that hard the next day? It has to be consistent!

I don't know what more I can say. I'm pretty tired from the week, but I don't have many stories. However, this coming week promises to be very interesting. Look forward to next Monday, everyone!

Also, I can't upload pictures here, so you should recieve a lot next week!

Loves,

Elder Shaw

"...And you're trying to manipulate people so you can sell mayonnaise."

Elder Conatti and I had a very interesting conversation about advertising and marketing. He said a quote that was too long to send in its entirety, but this was the funny part of it!

Oh my goodness-- this was one of those crazy weeks! We were quite busy. They made a change in mission standards to try and have 23 hours of active proselyting hours every week. Active proselyting means time actually spent talking to people about the gospel-- either teaching or contacting. It may not sound like much, but it has been a very big struggle for many companionships, and especially for us because of the traveling we do. However, we were practicing this week, so Elder Conatti and I were determined to get it. In total, we exceeded the 23 hour goal and we had around 20 hours of practicing music, too. Yep! Take that people who say it can't be done!

So, I hope all of you understand, based on those numbers, why I'm pooped right now. I wanted so bad to just stay in my bed forever this morning.... but yeah, that's not going to happen. Too much to do.

Well, work for the Christmas concert is progressing, I think it's going to be great. Work in Schiedam is still trucking along. We found people in some pretty cool circumstances this week. 

I have to let you all know something. I'm very scared about the attack that happened in Paris. Don't freak out on me yet; let me explain. I feel perfectly safe here! No worries in my mind about any of that stuff! However, people are going to be even more closed to our message than usual for the next little bit. This happens every time there's a report of terrorist activity. "Look at what religion is doing to this world! How can you profess to believe in... BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH!" That's why I'm scared, because the activity of radicals is interfering in others' ability to accept the gospel. Terrible!

Well, on a positive note-- God loves all of his children! No matter the things we see happen in the world, God knows what is best. Do I know why all of this stuff happens in the world? No. Does it make me sad and ask why at times? Certainly. Do I doubt that God is there and loves us? No. In these times of trouble and pain, I think we need to work to come closer to Him than ever. It's the only thing that will help us.

Well, I love you all. Sorry I don't have pictures!

Elder Shaw

"I know that The Book of Mormon is blue."

Well, first off let me apologize for not emailing yesterday. Our plans went kinda funky and I did not get the chance to email! There will be a few people that may not get responses this week. If that´s the case, I´m very sorry! I only have a tiny bit of time now and I´m trying to go as quickly as I can.

This week we were traveling in Utrecht. Other than the fact that were were late to almost every single appointment, it went quite well. We had some good times with the members and met a lot of wonderful people. Not a ton happened there, but it was a good time.

In other news, we sang at an Apostolic church on Sunday. In Groningen. Yeah, that was interesting. The story is that our church there is being remodeled, so they had to find another building to meet in. The Apostolische Genootschap (Dutch name) was very kind and willing to allow the ward to meet in their buildings on Sundays. On Sunday, they decided to have a sort of joint service where the two congregations could get to know each other and experience some good old Christian fraternity. For that, they invited us to come up and sing a few songs for this special meeting. We had a very good time and enjoyed getting to know the people. It was a really long trip, but quite pleasant.

We also had an investigator come to church on Sunday! I didn´t realize how long it had been until I realized how excited I was about it. Wow, things have been harder than I realized. We couldn´t be there to support her, but the ward took good care of her and we´re very pleased!

Okay, something cool with pictures:

These little green birds.... ARE ALL OVER ROTTERDAM! Right? They aren´t native here, but you´ll see them a lot. I guess some got out of someone´s house and they just thrived in this country. Aren´t they cute?

The Singing Elders stuffed bear needed a bath. This is Matthew, everybody!

I love you all!

Elder Shaw

"Never hide your feelings for your grandma."

There are some odd posters advertising Ray-Bans in the area. It is a picture of some young dude in glasses totally loving up on a MUCH older woman. It says "Never hide" in big letters. The title of the blog is Elder Conatti´s interpretation of the ad campaign.

Well, let´s see. It can be hard to recall the events of a week when you´re sitting in front of the computer. 

We had an interesting experience with an investigator with a SERIOUS drug problem. We went by for an appointment..... We talked to him and..... The lights were on but nobody was home. He didn´t remember the appointment and we haven´t been able to get in contact with him since that night. We´re really worried about him. We´ll see what we can do for him.

What else? I don´t have big stories from the week really; I think I can sum it up in some quick and possibly confusing statements that will at least have some entertainment value.

Things I did:

1. Puzzles with a 2 year old.

2. Figured out I can still varial kickflip.

3. Sat through a bunch of lessons in a language I don´t understand.

4. Taught some lessons I could understand.

5. Learned music for another musical event we were roped into.

6. Rapidly emptied my body of all its contents. (Homeboy got sick!)

7. Went on exchanges and got locked out.

8. Sang in another Sacrament meeting.

9. Improvised an entire college radio station with Elder Johnson.

10. Was awkwardly embraced by an older Nicaraguan woman.

Hahaha, are you kinda getting the gist? It was one of those bizarre weeks. But things are going well, and I´m having a great time!

I do have one picture.

It doesn´t do it justice, but this view was beautiful. That´s the famous Erasmus bridge. I had a few pictures of it when I was first here, but we went to visit a Cape Verdian member in the area and this view was beautiful.

Thank you for tuning into KRAP radio with THE SHAW. Now performing his new hit single: Billy Love... 

Hahaha, anyway, love you all!

Papua New Guinea Pig.

Hola! Now that I´m done with a FAR too long deep clean of the apartment and all kinds of other minor inconveniences (which are often the most frustrating kind), I´m here to email.

It has been a very long week. It feels like I haven´t emailed in forever. The movement of time on a mission is so inconsistent. Sometimes you sit and think "Dang, didn´t we just have Zone Conference yesterday?" and other times it´s like, "When was the last time I slept?"

First, it´s happening! Schiedam is exploding! We´re just pumped! We have way more people to teach and all sorts of other good things happening. It´s coming at a perfect time, too. Now that it´s getting dark earlier (dang daylight savings), contacting after the hour of 6 becomes really ineffective. It´s better than nothing, but it´s way better to teach than contact that late. Thus, we´re glad that we actually have people to teach now!

More cool things-- we went and had a big zone service project at the Salvation Army last Wednesday. We sorted clothes for the packages for refugees! It was a good time.... and in typical missionary fashion... by the end it was basically a big dress up party. Luckily the people working there found it very amusing! Otherwise.... there could have been issues. I must say I look pretty good in old lady floral print skirts and furry coats.

We traveled in Den Bosch, and had the concert in Eindhoven. It was definitely the best concert I´ve done so far. We were worried that we wouldn´t have enough room because it´s a very small church building, but we made it work and had a great evening. It was really odd..... We were absolutely swarmed for pictures afterward. I was frustrated because I was trying to talk to people and have a nice spiritual time, but instead I ended up being in a million pictures... Yeah, not a typical missionary problem.

Then we had Stake conference yesterday. I could hardly hear anything... but I enjoyed it anyway.

Well, I have pictures!

Conatti and I were going to go to the service project as twins! But he changed after this picture was taken. Dang, we didn´t even have tags on yet!

Elder Conatti really liked this...... blanket?

It´s been awhile!

You´re welcome everyone!

Lastly, these are a Dutch treat specific to Den Bosch. It´s basically a massive cream puff covered in dark chocolate. They have to be good for Elder Conatti to eat something so sweet.

Love,

Elder Shaw

"Boxtel is a great place. It´s pretty and smells like horse poop."

Once again, thank you Elder Conatti.

It happened. We had a great week! Elder Conatti and I managed to get in contact with multiple potentials and teach them! We even found someone for which we had the wrong address. We just "magically happened" to knock at the right door. Coincidence, my rear-end! It was nice to see that persistence pays off! Heck, with persistence, I could be a princess if I wanted. I´ve been learning a lot about the way that works, and that it´s an attribute I want to develop more and more. It feels good to work for things and have them work out just when you feel like giving up on it.

SO that was all very nice! Then, this week we worked in a Military Ward. So.... most of the members were American. It was a culture shock, but the appointments all ended up being amazing and the people were great. We met an adorable little boy that we were tempted to trade our stuffed bear for.... long story. But yeah, his parents asked him if he wanted to be a singing elder. He just put his hand up to his face and said "I can´t." We asked why and he replied, "Because I´m just a little boy." I about died, it was so cute! Like, do you ever have those moments where something is so cute you just want to hit things? Or are we just nuts?

I don´t have many stories really, but I do have some pictures!

I found her! I´ve been waiting so long to meet Beyonce!

Oh yeah! We had Temple conference this week! This is Elder Henderson (the other guy in our apartment.) We had a wonderful time there. And I had an interesting experience you may be hearing about soon.

This is a terrible picture of a beautiful city. Sorry.... it´s hard to get good pictures from a car.

Elder Conatti could be the next Yo Yo Ma (except that he's a cellist), if we could teach him how to hold a violin correctly.

Make muffins, not war.

Elder Shaw

And move from Kneeling Duck into Bruce Walrus.

I was leading the others in some yoga this morning. By that, I mean I was doing yoga and the others were watching me. I didn't know names for poses, so I made them up. Kneeling Duck and Bruce Walrus were just what came to my head.

Okay.... this week was... pretty uneventful actually. We practiced this week for a Christmas performance we are going to do! It´s going to be a lot of work, but SO fun! I´m very excited. Elder Hunter is still working on the script, but we already have two songs learned and we´re working on perfecting them.

Elder Conatti and I contacted a lot; we´re still have trouble actually teaching people.... but we have given away many copies of the Book of Mormon (it´s a great read; if you haven´t heard of it, check it out.) We´re powering through. It´s going great. We´re staying positive. I´m speaking in simple sentences in the present tense. It´s been one of those weeks where your mind gives up on complex syntax.

I´m sorry it´s short. There really just is not a whole lot to say about the week. 

A few pictures!

Look at the greenie and his trainer! SO CUUUTE! Also, you can kinda see our mattress arrangement in this. Mattress on the floor, two beds, oh, and my mattress is under the bed where they´re praying. We pull it out for sleeping time, but other wise it stays in there.

Look! the greenie!

Oh! And we get to go to the temple this week! Yay!

Love,

Elder Shaw

I no wan´ ladies, I wan´ batize.

Explanation: Elder Conatti actually has a perfect American accent. His English is actually better than that of most Americans (myself included). However-- he is very good at accents and always says funny things in different voices. The above was... some sort of accent saying "I don´t want ladies, I want to baptize." (I told him he was handsome.)

We had to prepare the apartment for the extra two Elders we received on Wednesday. They´re wonderful fellows! There was a lot of adjustment that had to be done, and our mattress arrangement is a tad unorthodox, but it fulfills its purpose just fine! We´re actually going to be around and practicing this week, so we have a good chance to get to know the other Elders before the schedule gets nuts.

We traveled in Breda this week; it was a lot of fun, and we were fed a lot! Like, a lot. We made two lunch appointments during traveling. I was appreciative of people going out of their way to feed us, but it was sooooo much. My poor little stomach was crying as I crammed it full of hearty Dutch cuisine. I think I gained weight. No joke. It was a lot of food!

Well, this is a little short this week because I had a ton of birthday emails to respond to! I´m sorry! But know that all your emails were very much appreciated! If you didn´t get a response, let me know. I´m pretty sure I got everyone though...

I have a few pictures!

Look at the moon...

...and the church that was next to it!

And look! A fixed post slot!

Keep it swill err´body!

Elder Shaw

Leeftijd is maar een nummer.

First thing I'll say is thank you for all of the birthday wishes, and special thank yous to Mike, Marian, Nana, and Grandma and Grandpa Shaw for your VERY generous gifts. You're all far too sweet!

In interesting news, we now have no investigators! This last week both of our investigators left the country. One is just to take care of her ill mother in Nicaragua and the other was Kris, who finally made his way to Ireland! Yep, transfers again, so we get another "restart" this transfer.

Oh, yeah. I forgot to mention transfers. Elder Conatti and I are staying, so no worries there. However! They are making our quite small apartment... into a four-man. I have absolutely no idea how we're going to do it, but we'll manage. ADVENTURE! The mission is certainly full of it. 

We were traveling in Eindhoven this week. It was very fun, and I had the opportunity to work with Elders Steenblik and Parr! It was fun seeing them. Appointments went well. No serious drama... Initially. Just a good time! Then on Sunday we went and sang in the Breda Ward. It was a little odd. This ward has been asking and waiting for us for a VERY long time. We felt like The Beatles, except that the average age of the audience was closer to 85 than to 15. No complaints from me! It was a great time.

Okay, here's where things get a little weird (as if the transfers weren't odd enough). We were staying in the now vacant senior couple apartment in Eindhoven during our work there. One day, Elder Hunter noticed that two pairs of his pants were missing. Then, on Sunday, Elder Conatti found that his suit was missing. Then we also realized that two of our coats had gone missing. We rummaged through the house searching for it all, but found none of it. Now.... We don't know what's going on, but we intend to get to the bottom of it. No matter what it takes.

Well, that's my week. I'm 20 now, and while I can say that I feel like a different person than when I turned 19, it certainly has nothing to do with my birthday! It has been an intense year.

I have some pictures.

Trying to get ready for travel always ends up looking something like this.

I just chilled and let Elder Connati do the work. ;)

Ain't he cute. It's just so easy to take pictures of him!

Translate this. It was an advertisement in a grocery catalog. Odd!

Have an awesome week!

Elder Shaw

Have Opel Corsa, Will Travel

I. Am. Beat. We had our performance in Apeldoorn on Saturday. Then the day after we had to be down in Eindhoven for church. Elder Muller wanted a break from driving, so I ended up doing most of it, much to the dismay of the other passengers. I didn't think I was bad at driving, but apparently....

It was a service week for the mission this last week, and we were able to do some service projects on Tuesday and Wednesday. It felt good to just go and do some work to help other people. I have a new appreciation for service since being on a mission. It did mean, however, that not much normal work was done in Schiedam this week.

Heck, the work here in Schiedam itself is just strange. I'm here so rarely that I feel like I still have no idea what's going on in my own area. I mean, we do have things going on and people to teach, but I always feel a bit lost when I'm here. I'm trying to stay focused on it though, because it's very important. It's really easy to be like "Oh, we worked so hard while traveling. We can take it a little easy this week." It's about getting past that and realizing that you have more to give. I hope that by the end of my mission I can say I gave it everything...

Elder Hunter got bounced around again by the medical system, so we won't really know what's going on until October. Yeah, I know. But there's nothing we can do about it right now. Luckily he's in way less pain, so the fun can continue!

Oh, funny story about the concert on Saturday. Elder Muller was SO sick. He had been feeling awful the entire day, and it became progressively worse throughout the day. It may have been nerves; I dunno, but he really felt crappy. Just before we began he went and threw up.... twice. We were (naturally) worried about him, but he made it through just fine and felt way better by the end of the night. 

Then, during Sacrament Meeting on Sunday an older lady fainted. She wasn't on the stand or anything, but she stood up to exit the room and just turfed it. Luckily the members sitting around her were very quick to action and managed to keep her from hitting the ground. The lowered her down and took her out to help her. I never learned what happened, but it was a tad surreal. I feel like we see more of those sorts of things than most people... Just part of being a missionary.

Pictures!

Service! We basically sanded this apartment for four hours!

This is Elder Frederico. We did service together on Tuesday. He's actually Elder Conatti's cousin. (no joke) Here he is in a little uniform. Fitting that his first name is Luigi, eh?

Preparing for the concert. They wouldn't smile at me.

Elder Hunter setting up the mics.

Look at him study his music! Isn't he just adorable?

'Til next week!

The Shaw!

Ellos hablan Twi

Okay, down to bweezness. We finally taught one of those potentials this week. It was a half- Spanish, half- Dutch lesson, and I was basically just confused the entire time. By the time it shifted back to Dutch, they had moved topics and I had to try and find what was going on. It was a fun adventure!

Oh, here´s an interesting little bit of information-- last Monday we went to go eat after emailing, and met this awesome inactive lady Taggart and I had met with when I was here before. She came out to have lunch with all of us and we had a good time. Then we went back a few days later and had an appointment with her that was very uplifting. Safe to say, I am totally her favorite missionary and she´s going to come back to church and really enjoy it. Astrid, I know you´re reading this. I hope you enjoyed it. Also, I´ll do my best to fix your mail slot!

Anyway, we traveled a bunch this week. It was so much time in a car, but the appointments we had made it worth it! It´s always a nice experience getting to know so many people, even if it´s super hard to remember names. So many "Van De"s and "Van Der"s and "Van Den"s-- it can get very confusing. I´m sure it´s easier if you´re from the Netherlands, but for an American... difficult.

Anyway, I have pictures!

This is where the GPS brought us once.... there was nothing there.

We thought it fitting that this is a plus size store!

Long drive

This kitty did not like when I tried to pick it up. Luckily we got this picture before that.

We went running with a Greenie in Amersfoort! Isn´t he cute!

Conatti took a really blurry picture of half dead flowers!

That´s it!

LOVES!